A Critical Phase in the Turkish National Struggle: The Issue of    Relocating the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to Kayseri

Muhammet Yıldız

Article Details

A Critical Phase in the Turkish National Struggle: The Issue of Relocating the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to Kayseri

Authors:

Muhammet Yıldız

Publisher:

Hakan YILMAZ

Main Topics:

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tarihi

Journal:

Akademik Tarih ve Düşünce Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 3, pp.824-848

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348765

pISSN:

2148-2292

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The Kütahya-Eskişehir Battles witnessed critical military and political developments that affected the course of the Turkish National Struggle. The superiority of the Greek army in these battles led to the withdrawal of Turkish forces to the east of the Sakarya River; this development radically changed the strategic balance of the war. The withdrawal created not only a military but also a political crisis. In the face of the Greek advance, the Ankara Government considered moving the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM to Kayseri in case of a possible attack. This proposal led to heated debates in the Parliament and created panic and uncertainty in public opinion. The Greek occupation of strategic cities undermined public morale and increased the pressure on the government and the army. However, this proposal was not implemented and the process was successfully managed thanks to Mustafa Kemal Pashas decisive and prudent leadership. In this way, public concerns were allayed and the publics belief in the National Struggle was preserved. Although the proposal to move the Assembly was not implemented, this process demonstrated the governments strategic foresight and competence in crisis management. This study analyses these developments through a qualitative research method and aims to shed light on an important period in the course of the National Struggle. The study, which is based on archival documents, the press of the period and the existing literature, is expected to contribute to the field.

 The Kütahya-Eskişehir Battles witnessed critical military and political developments that affected the course of the Turkish National Struggle. The superiority of the Greek army in these battles led to the withdrawal of Turkish forces to the east of the Sakarya River; this development radically changed the strategic balance of the war. The withdrawal created not only a military but also a political crisis. In the face of the Greek advance, the Ankara Government considered moving the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM to Kayseri in case of a possible attack. This proposal led to heated debates in the Parliament and created panic and uncertainty in public opinion. The Greek occupation of strategic cities undermined public morale and increased the pressure on the government and the army. However, this proposal was not implemented and the process was successfully managed thanks to Mustafa Kemal Pashas decisive and prudent leadership. In this way, public concerns were allayed and the publics belief in the National Struggle was preserved. Although the proposal to move the Assembly was not implemented, this process demonstrated the governments strategic foresight and competence in crisis management. This study analyses these developments through a qualitative research method and aims to shed light on an important period in the course of the National Struggle. The study, which is based on archival documents, the press of the period and the existing literature, is expected to contribute to the field.

 The Kütahya-Eskişehir Battles witnessed critical military and political developments that affected the course of the Turkish National Struggle. The superiority of the Greek army in these battles led to the withdrawal of Turkish forces to the east of the Sakarya River; this development radically changed the strategic balance of the war. The withdrawal created not only a military but also a political crisis. In the face of the Greek advance, the Ankara Government considered moving the Grand National Assembly of Turkey TBMM to Kayseri in case of a possible attack. This proposal led to heated debates in the Parliament and created panic and uncertainty in public opinion. The Greek occupation of strategic cities undermined public morale and increased the pressure on the government and the army. However, this proposal was not implemented and the process was successfully managed thanks to Mustafa Kemal Pashas decisive and prudent leadership. In this way, public concerns were allayed and the publics belief in the National Struggle was preserved. Although the proposal to move the Assembly was not implemented, this process demonstrated the governments strategic foresight and competence in crisis management. This study analyses these developments through a qualitative research method and aims to shed light on an important period in the course of the National Struggle. The study, which is based on archival documents, the press of the period and the existing literature, is expected to contribute to the field.

 Kütahya-Eskişehir Muharebeleri, Türk Millî Mücadelesinin seyrini etkileyen kritik askerî ve siyasî gelişmelere sahne olmuştur. Bu muharebelerde Yunan ordusunun üstünlük sağlaması, Türk kuvvetlerinin Sakarya Nehrinin doğusuna çekilmesine yol açmış; bu gelişme savaşın stratejik dengesini köklü biçimde değiştirmiştir. Geri çekilme yalnızca askerî değil, aynı zamanda siyasî bir kriz ortamı yaratmıştır. Yunan ilerleyişi karşısında Ankara Hükûmeti, Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisinin TBMM olası bir saldırı hâlinde Kayseriye taşınmasını gündeme almıştır. Bu öneri Mecliste hararetli tartışmalara yol açmış, kamuoyunda panik ve belirsizlik yaratmıştır. Stratejik şehirlerin Yunan işgali altına girmesi halkın moralini zedelerken, hükümet ve ordu üzerindeki baskıyı artırmıştır. Ancak bu öneri hayata geçirilmemiş, Mustafa Kemal Paşanın kararlı ve sağduyulu liderliği sayesinde süreç başarıyla yönetilmiştir. Bu sayede kamuoyundaki endişeler giderilmiş, halkın Millî Mücadeleye olan inancı korunmuştur. Her ne kadar Meclisin taşınması önerisi uygulanmamış olsa da, bu süreç hükümetin stratejik öngörüsünü ve kriz yönetimi konusundaki yetkinliğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu çalışma, söz konusu gelişmeleri nitel araştırma yöntemiyle ele almakta, Millî Mücadelenin seyrinde önemli bir döneme ışık tutmayı amaçlamaktadır. Arşiv belgeleri, dönemin basını ve mevcut literatür temel alınarak hazırlanan araştırmanın, alana katkı sunacağı değerlendirilmektedir.

Article Details

A Critical Phase in the Turkish National Struggle: The Issue of Relocating the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to Kayseri

Authors:

Muhammet Yıldız

Publisher:

Hakan YILMAZ

Main Topics:

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tarihi

Journal:

Akademik Tarih ve Düşünce Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 3, pp.824-848

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348765

pISSN:

2148-2292

National Struggle

TBMM

Ankara

Kayseri: Millî Mücadele

TBMM

Ankara

Kayseri

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Muhammet Yıldız

Publisher: Hakan YILMAZ

Main Topics: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tarihi

Journal: Akademik Tarih ve Düşünce Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 3, pp.824-848

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348765

pISSN: 2148-2292

Issues

Authors:

Muhammet Yıldız

Publisher:

Hakan YILMAZ

Main Topics:

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tarihi

Journal:

Akademik Tarih ve Düşünce Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 3, pp.824-848

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348765

pISSN:

2148-2292